Soy Transportation Coalition

What Soy Transportation Coalition does

The Soy Transportation Coalition is a non-profit industry association established in 2007 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. It was founded by the United Soybean Board, the American Soybean Association, and thirteen state soybean boards, whose collective membership encompasses approximately 85% of total U.S. soybean production. The National Grain and Feed Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association serve as ex-officio board members. Its mission is to advocate for a cost-effective, reliable, and competitive transportation system serving the soybean industry, addressing rural roads and bridges, highways, freight rail, inland waterways, ports, and the Panama Canal.

The coalition operates as an advocacy and research body rather than a commercial enterprise. It produces research reports, publishes the annual Railroad Report Card, maintains a Transportation Statistics Database, and operates an online Soybean Transportation Calculator that helps farmers compare delivery profitability across markets. Its core staff is reported as two people (Executive Director Mike Steenhoek and Project Coordinator Kristen Dearden), led by a board comprising farmer-directors from member states. Strategic partnerships include the Panama Canal Authority and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp, and it co-hosts the annual Ag Transportation Summit with NGFA.

The organization's revenue model is funded through the soybean checkoff program, with operational contributions from participating state soybean boards, ASA, and USB based on soybean production volume. No commercial products or services are sold, pricing is not applicable, and financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is achieved through the state soybean board network, direct digital channels, industry events, and earned media coverage in agricultural publications.

Name

Soy Transportation Coalition

Legal name

Soy Transportation Coalition

Website

https://soytransportation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Soy Transportation Coalition is a non-profit association founded in 2007 that represents 13 state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board—collectively covering 85% of U.S. soybean production—to advocate for cost-effective transportation infrastructure serving the soybean industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Transportation Advocacy

NAICS

Soybean Farming (11111), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Inland Water Freight Transportation (483211)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Agricultural Services (700), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Bulk Commodities Transport (Grain/Oilseeds/Feed) (TLADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soybean Farming (AFAGABAA), Intermodal Drayage & Cartage (First/Last Mile) (TLADAFAC)

Keywords

• Agricultural transportation advocacy
• Soybean infrastructure research
• Rural bridge replacement
• Freight rail performance
• Inland waterway policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ankeny

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Soybean Checkoff Funding: The organization is funded through the soybean checkoff program, where state soybean boards contribute based on soybean production. The thirteen participating state soybean boards, the American Soybean Association, and the United Soybean Board provide operational funding. The coalition was established by these organizations to promote a cost effective, reliable, and competitive transportation system for the soybean industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Soy Transportation Coalition is a nonprofit industry coalition that advocates for a cost-effective, reliable, and competitive transportation system for the U.S. soybean industry. It conducts and publishes research on multimodal transportation infrastructure (rural roads, bridges, highways, rail, inland waterways, ports, and the Panama Canal), provides informational tools such as a soybean transportation profitability calculator, and convenes industry stakeholders through events like the Ag Transportation Summit.

Product overview

The Soy Transportation Coalition is an industry advocacy organization that provides informational tools and research resources rather than commercial software products. Its primary offerings include an online Soybean Transportation Calculator for farmer decision-making, a Transportation Statistics Database, Railroad Report Card assessments, Key Findings research reports, and a Farm to Market Resource Center. These resources collectively support the soybean industry's understanding of transportation infrastructure issues impacting competitiveness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soybean Transportation Calculator Online decision-support tool that helps soybean farmers compare the profitability of selling to local elevators versus distant markets by calculating transportation costs including fuel, labor, and maintenance per mile.
• Key Findings Research Reports Collection of data-driven research reports covering barge statistics, rail carloading, soybean supply and demand forecasts, U.S.-Brazil transportation comparisons, and modal share analysis for the soybean industry.
• Transportation Statistics Database Comprehensive statistics resource covering railroads, gasoline and diesel, ports, ocean vessels, barges, highways/roads/bridges, modal comparisons, containers, and U.S. vs. Brazil transportation cost comparisons.
• Railroad Report Card Annual assessment rating railroad performance for grain and soybean shippers, evaluating service quality, reliability, and competitiveness across Class I railroads.
• Farm to Market Resource Center Comprehensive information resource covering rural infrastructure, highways, railroads, waterways, and Panama Canal issues affecting soybean transportation from farm to market.

Quantifiable outcome

• The thirteen participating states encompass 85% of total U.S. soybean production
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• St. Lawrence Seaway Management CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2021Partnership announced to increase Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway agricultural exports. The partnership aims to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. soybean and agricultural exports through this waterway system.
• Panama Canal AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The Soy Transportation Coalition and Panama Canal Authority have extended their partnership to study and address the impacts of Panama Canal expansion on U.S. agriculture. Approximately 600 million bushels of U.S. soybeans are transported through the Panama Canal annually, making soybeans the #1 agricultural commodity using this key global commerce artery. The expanded canal has potential to positively impact U.S. soybean farmers' ability to meet international customer needs.
• National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NGFA serves as an ex-officio member on the STC board and co-hosts the annual Ag Transportation Summit with STC. This partnership brings together grain shippers, feed manufacturers, and other agricultural stakeholders to address transportation challenges.
• National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOPA serves as an ex-officio member on the STC board, representing oilseed crushers of canola, flaxseed, safflower, soybeans, and sunflower. This partnership provides STC with insights from the processing side of the soybean value chain.
• Illinois Soybean AssociationcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Illinois soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Indiana Soybean AlliancecoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Indiana soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Iowa Soybean AssociationcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Iowa soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Kansas Soybean CommissioncoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Joined in 2010. Represents Kansas soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Kentucky Soybean BoardcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Kentucky soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Michigan Soybean Promotion CommitteecoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Michigan soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion CouncilcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Minnesota soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Missouri Soybean Merchandising CouncilcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Joined in 2015. Represents Missouri soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Nebraska Soybean BoardcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Nebraska soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• North Dakota Soybean CouncilcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents North Dakota soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Ohio Soybean CouncilcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Ohio soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion CouncilcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents South Dakota soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.
• Tennessee Soybean Promotion BoardcoreOthersOne of 13 state soybean boards that are founding members of the Soy Transportation Coalition. Represents Tennessee soybean producers and participates in STC governance and initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: Largest general-purpose U.S. agricultural advocacy organization covering transportation, trade, and rural infrastructure across all commodities. Farm Bureau overlaps STC on highway/bridge funding and rural policy but operates at a much broader commodity scope.
• American Association of Port Authorities: Alliance of public port authorities addressing port infrastructure, dredging, and intermodal connectivity. AAPA overlaps STC on Mississippi Gulf and export port issues but speaks for ports rather than shippers.

Direct peers

• U.S. Wheat Associates: Export-market development organization for U.S. wheat that depends on similar rail, river, and port infrastructure. USW works alongside STC on transportation cost competitiveness and Gulf/Pacific export logistics.
• National Corn Growers Association: Checkoff-funded commodity organization whose members share the same highway, rail, and waterway infrastructure as soybeans. NCGA pursues adjacent transportation and ethanol logistics advocacy and competes for share of voice on rural infrastructure.
• National Grain and Feed Association: Trade association representing grain and feed shippers, processors, and handlers. NGFA serves as an ex-officio member on STC's board and co-hosts the annual Ag Transportation Summit, making it the closest peer in mission and membership overlap.
• Waterways Council, Inc. National advocacy organization for inland waterway navigation (locks, dams, rivers). WCI is a natural peer for STC's waterway-focused work on the Mississippi River system and inland barge logistics.
• National Oilseed Processors Association: Trade association for oilseed crushers (soybeans, canola, sunflower, etc.) that is an ex-officio member of STC's board. NOPA bridges the soybean value chain from farm to processor and overlaps STC on transportation policy.
• United Soybean Board: Soybean checkoff-funded farmer-led organization that is one of STC's founding partners and primary funders. USB overlaps STC in serving U.S. soybean farmers and co-funds STC's advocacy infrastructure.
• American Soybean Association: National policy and trade advocacy organization for U.S. soybean growers and a founding partner of STC. ASA complements STC's transportation focus with broader farm policy and international market development work.

Emerging players

• American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association: Trade group for Class II and Class III railroads that feed grain from rural elevators into Class I systems. ASLRRA engages on rail service and rural rail infrastructure, complementing STC's Railroad Report Card work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soy-transportation-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soy Transportation Coalition